This Tempeh bacon is a savory alternative to regular bacon with the familiar flavors you’d expect. High in protein and especially savory, this vegan bacon recipe is so unfussy to make and a MUST for your breakfast and brunch menus!

Want to try more tempeh recipes? We’re huge fans of this Tempeh Stir Fry as well as well as this Unfussy Baked Tempeh and my Tempeh Marinade (with 6 different flavors)!

I’m only going to start this post out by bringing up the elephant in the room… meatless bacon. I KNOW. I’m not trying to tell you that this tempeh bacon is the reliable swap for real bacon, but I am promising you that it’s ridiculously flavorful! Simply stick with me for a minute on this one…

I happen to LOVE tempeh in any form. This sesame ginger tempeh stir fry is one of my regular recipes on the blog and this tempeh chili is on repeat all winter long. We also love using this bacon to make a Vegan BLT sandwich! So, I might be a little biased on this vegan bacon, I’ll admit.

What is Tempeh?

Tempeh is a plant-based protein source that is made from fermented soybeans. It kind of looks like someone smashed together a bunch of beans and then baked it into a cake. It has a firm texture that can easily be sliced or even crumbled. Tempeh is high in both fiber and protein making it a great plant-based meat alternative.

On it’s own and uncooked, tempeh has a particularly mild taste and is almost flavorless. However, it does a great job soaking up marinades and flavors, and if cooked well, tastes STANDOUT!

You can check out all of my tempeh recipes here!

Ingredients needed

To make tempeh bacon, you’ll simply need some particularly basic ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Here’s the lineup:

Tempeh. You can find tempeh in most grocery stores. It’s usually in the health food or produce section and comes refrigerated.
Soy sauce. The base of our marinade, soy sauce combines with the other marinade ingredients to create a old-style bacon flavor. Tamari or coconut aminos also work well fir a gluten-free option.
Apple cider vinegar.
Garlic. I used fresh garlic but you can also use 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
Liquid smoke. This will give our vegan bacon that old-school smoky flavor that this earns a repeat in real bacon. You can find this near spices and seasonings at the grocery store.
Olive oil.
Maple syrup. For a touch of sweetness!

Can you air fry tempeh bacon?

YES! I tried this recently and it was satisfying! Follow the recipe as written but place it in the air fryer. Air Fry at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. If you want it a little crispier, air fry it a few minutes more until it reaches your desired crispiness!